Even if the Prince did risk never seeing me again, I am not sure but that it would be better for him than to lead this dreadful life.' "And as her fancy pictured her poor Prince forced in this monstrous disguise to wander about all night tired and shelterless, her indignation rose beyond her control.

She forgot where she was, she forgot the magic power that surrounded her, she forgot everything except her distress and anxiety.
"'Hateful thing!' she repeated, giving the skin another kick; 'I wish you were burnt to cinders.' "Hardly had she said the words when a sudden noise like a clap of thunder shook the air; a flash of lightning seemed to glance past her and alight on the skin, which in an instant shrivelled up to a cinder like a burnt glove.

Too startled at first to know whether she should rejoice or not, the Princess gazed at her work in bewilderment, when a voice of anguish, but, alas! a well-known voice, made her turn round.

It was the Prince, hastening from the palace with an expression half of anger half of sorrowful reproach on his face.
"'O Princess, Princess,' he cried, 'what have you done?
But a little more patience and all might have been well.

And now I know not if I shall ever see you again.' "'O Prince, forgive me, I did not mean it,' sobbed the poor Princess.